Addressing Urgent Needs Today
Everyone deserves the opportunity to prosper. At United Way we work with our neighbors to build a resilient community that is ready for any challenge. Through crisis response, volunteerism, and building strong neighborhoods, we are strengthening the foundation of Southeast Minnesota for a more sustainable and secure future.
When facing a crisis, individuals and families need immediate access to reliable services and resources to meet their needs.
Over 5,000
calls to 211 in Southeast Minnesota each year.
35%
of Olmsted County adults feel socially disconnected.
1 in 3
households in Olmsted County are unable to meet their basic needs.
What We Do
United Way builds a resilient community through a comprehensive approach that addresses urgent needs while also affecting long-term change. United Way's 211 partnership is a lifeline during times of crisis. Through our volunteer efforts we connect neighbors to neighbors to make a difference from the ground up. And through our investments in neighborhoods and civic engagement, we fund programs that create strong communities.
Sources
Olmsted County Community Health Needs Assessment. (2022). Olmsted County Public Health Services, Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center.
United Way's 211 helps you reach the right resource, right away, from right where you are.
Just dial 2-1-1 for information on hundreds of local resources. Information is also available via self-search or by texting your zip code to 898-211.
211 Resources
- Food and Meals
- Housing and Eviction Support
- Employment
- Treatment Centers and Support
- Crisis Childcare
- And Much More...
When you call 211, you will speak with a trained resource navigator who can recommend local resources to meet your needs. In our database, there are over 200 agencies and 6,000 programs in our community. With all of these resources at their fingertips, 211 navigators will brainstorm ways to support you and your family and give you important information to move forward.
211 Benefits
- Free
- Confidential
- Available 24/7
- Multilingual
- One phone call away!
At United Way, we believe there's a place for everyone to be involved in our community. We promote volunteerism as the foundation of our community, helping create connections between neighbors and organizations. We're here to help find the right volunteer opportunity for you!
Our Get Connected volunteer portal always has a variety of opportunities posted with organizations across our community. We also offer a special Varsity Letter in Community Service program for high schoolers who want to get involved in their communities.
Community-led reports are the result of months-long projects where local residents come together to research, listen, and share what’s happening in their county. Guided by United Way of Southeast Minnesota, these teams include people with both lived and professional experience in human services.
The process focuses on identifying gaps, accessibility challenges, and community needs by hearing directly from those most impacted. The final reports highlight key findings and recommendations to guide service providers, funders, and decision-makers in building stronger, more responsive systems of support.
Each county’s report reflects the voices of its residents and helps shape practical solutions for a healthier, thriving community.
Fillmore County report is currently on-going.
Winona County Community Resiliency Grants 2025
In order to build on and appreciate the success of our recent Winona County Community-Led Learning, United Way of Southeast Minnesota is releasing 4 grants at $5,000 each to support programs connected to the report's recommendations. We strongly encourage you to read through the report, recommendations, and rubric to strengthen your application. We will award one grant per recommendation focus area. Please choose the category and recommendation you feel most closely fits with the goal of your program or service. You are unable to click more than one category or recommendation.
Read the full Winona County Community-Led Research Report and examples of eligible programs.
Eligible applicants are:
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501c3 organizations or fiscally sponsored organizations that have a documented relationship with a 501c3
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Government entities
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School districts
AND
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Providing a free or low cost service to low-income* Winona County residents that is directly connected to the recommendations from our recent Winona County community led learning project
Applications will be accepted from January 13th to February 16, 2026 at 11:59 PM. For any questions regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP), eligibility, or your application, please reach out to Sierra Verdin, Grants Coordinator, at sierrav@uwsemn.org or (507) 535-5504
*We define low-income as living in the ALICE population, which is under 300% of the Federal Poverty Level. Learn more about ALICE ranges by household type.
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January 13: application opens
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February 16: application closes at 11:59 PM
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February 18-25: staff and volunteers review applications
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March 3: applicants notified
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March 31: fund disbursement upon receipt of financial documentation
All grants must be spent before March 31, 2027
Complete the application through our site or hit the “apply now” button above. You may download and review the Winona County Community Resiliency Grants 2026 Application Questions.
After your application is submitted, you should receive an automated message confirming your submission via email and you will hear back from UWSEMN staff on the state of your application no later than 5 PM on March 3, 2026.
How to use this rubric:
We strongly encourage you to review our rubric and examples of eligible programs to understand how your application will be reviewed. This is not meant to be a fully inclusive list, and we will consider all applications that align with the spirit of the focus area as described within the report.
All applications will be reviewed by staff and some of the original community led learning project team. Those who have a conflict of interest with any applying agency will not read or score that application.
Download a copy of the Winona County Community Resiliency Grants 2026 Rubric.
- Funding is intended to be spent by March 2027
- Reporting metrics will be developed together alongside UWSEMN staff and typically consist of things you already capture for other funders or your own purposes. UWSEMN staff usually look to receive up to 4 outcome metrics from partners that help tell the story of their work’s impact. We ask that you capture demographic data of participants as you are able.
- Reporting will be a combination of quantitative data and storytelling amongst your funded peers during a group conversation to be scheduled in the Summer of 2027.